Sneak peak: The love of the nightingale

The second year drama students are putting on their first live performance of the year and some sneak peeks with an exclusive interview reveals more, reports Laura Finkler and Maddie Binns.

In The Love of the Nightingale Timberlake Wertenbaker re-tells the Greek myth of Procne and Philomele, drawing on the techniques and the poetry of Ancient Greek Theatre. It is a tale of the love of two sisters. It is a tale of rape and revenge. It is a tale of war – between nations, between cultures, between genders. Most importantly it explores the violence that erupts when individuals, communities or nations feel silenced. As such it is a tale for our times. Playing the role of Philomele, Emma Russell had to say: “It get’s a really violent, but in the end Procne and Philomele reunite after 5 years of being separated.”

The LSBU Student Theatre Company will explore how an ensemble of men and women can tell this story physically, vocally and emotionally. By investigating this powerful myth we hope to expose what happens when a society decides that some lives matter less than others, and to advocate that we listen to the questions people ask.

This amateur production of “The Love of the Nightingale” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD.The Love of the Nightingale runs over two days, your first chance to see the performance is Friday 17 November.